WEATHER: Just Trying to Survive'

Dawson, a dusty county seat in the rich, red
clay farm land of southeast Georgia, proclaims itself the "Spanish
Peanut Capital of the World." Just how long the town (pop. 5,383) can
maintain that claim, however, is in doubt. This spring's rainfall was
barely 6.4 in., one-third of what it was last year. The peanut plants,
normally large and verdant, the size of trash-can tops with diminutive
yellow flowers nestled in their leaves, are Frisbee size, no more than
12 in. wide, and wilting. As for Dawson's usually rich crop of corn,...